NEWS：USAの最近のブログ記事

Stow, OH - NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Sportsman Racer, Dan Fletcher, is the only Sportsman racer to sweep the "Western Swing," having won all three races in 1994, and again this season at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals on August 4.

Fletcher earned his second Swing sweep for wins 84 and 85 making him the 17th driver to accomplish the double-win feat, and earning the 28th double in NHRA history.Fletcher's double is also especially remarkable because the 85th victory ties him with NHRA legend Bob Glidden, another Mickey Thompson competitor, for fourth place on the all-time NHRA wins list.

"Dan Fletcher is a platinum member of Team M/T, and we were thrilled to see him earn this string of incredible wins and make NHRA history," stated Tom Kundrik, motorsports manager, Mickey Thompson. "As we celebrate our 50th year, it's incredible for us to also share in celebrating these kinds of victories."

Fletcher competes using Mickey Thompson's #30751 tires size 32.0/14.5-15 and Pro 5 Drag Wheels. He has been a loyal Team M/T Member since 1994. For more information about Mickey Thompson?s tires and wheels for the strip, visit http://www.mickeythompsontires.com.

Stow, OH - Round ten of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) competition at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif., this past weekend was action packed.

Mickey Thompson-sponsored Brian Deegan (Deegan Motorsports) earned a second place finish in the Pro 2 Unlimited class, and a third place finish in the Pro Lite class on Mickey Thompson tires.

"It was incredible to see Brian earn a spot at the podium in several classes again this past weekend," stated Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson. "He is a true racing champion and we wish him continued success."

The next round of LOORRS racing takes place August 24-25 at Reno Wild West Motorsports Park in Sparks, Nev. For the event schedule, visit http://www.lucasoiloffroad.com/schedules/race-schedule. For more information about the LOORRS series, visit http://www.lucasoiloffroad.com.

Stow, OH - Danny Thompson, son of the late Mickey Thompson, has launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to support the continued development of the Challenger 2.5 project. (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thompsonlsr/thompsonlsr-resurrecting-mickey-thompsons-streamli.) This legendary project supports the complete state-of-the-art restoration of Mickey's Challenger 2 Streamliner. The goal is to exceed the existing internal combustion wheel-driven land speed record of 417.020 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Committed to making his father's dream of establishing a new land speed record a reality, Thompson has reached out to the motorsports community for financial support starting with the company founded by his father in 1963, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, and he has expanded his efforts to reach the global motorsports community through Kickstarter.

"My dad was the first American to go over 400 miles per hour in a car, but he didn't get the record. We're going to fix that," stated Thompson. "My dad came to me in 1988 and told me he wanted me to drive this car, and that he wanted us to restore the Streamliner. We didn't get to do that together as a father-son team. But, my team and I have made incredible progress, and we just need a little help from the motorsports community I call my home to take us across that finish line."

Progress on the Challenger 2.5 has been extensive. Final assembly and testing of the Streamliner occurs this winter, with measured FIA and SCTA record runs to follow next summer.

Technical Specs

The car is 32 feet long, 34 inches wide, and weighs 5,500 pounds.

The skin of the car is made-up entirely of 68 hand formed aluminum panels. They are connected to the subframe via simple Dzus buttons.

The streamliner has two engines, one on either side of the cockpit. The original 1960s setup delivered nearly 1,800 hp. Our new engines provide close to 4,000 hp.

The engines are dry blocks (waterless). All of the cooling is provided by the fuel. A single run will consume approximately 50 gallons of nitro blend fuel.

The tires are a prototype nylon weave backed with banded steel. There is only 1/32 of an inch of rubber. Any more would spin off due to heat and expansion. They are custom made by Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels.

Primary stopping power is provided by dual parachutes that deploy four-foot blossoms. There are also four carbon fiber disk brakes.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the Carlisle Truck Nationals as the 2013 Official Tire Sponsor. The Carlisle Truck Nationals, scheduled Aug. 2-4 in Carlisle, PA., features more than 2,000 custom trucks, 4x4s, SUVs, vans, big rigs and classic trucks creating one of the largest truck events in the world.

"Working with the Carlisle Truck Nationals has been great," stated Joe Musson, Regional Marketing Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "?This event has become one of the most incredible events in the country for truck enthusiasts, and we are looking forward to featuring the new Mickey Thompson ATZp3 as well as the Dick Cepek Trail Country and Fun Country tires in the SEMA LTAA Product Showcase this year. We welcome everyone to stop by and see us."

Stow, OH - The Mickey Thompson-sponsored "Wally" - winning Luke Bogacki has earned his sixth NHRA national event win in the Super Comp class on Mickey Thompson tires with a 8.934-second time at 155.70 miles per hour.A long-time Team M/T Member, Bogacki rocked Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk July 6-7 to take the lead in the Super Comp class by more than 100 points following a five-week stretch of victory.

Bogacki competes with Mickey Thompson ET Drag tires, part #3186, size 34.5/17.0-16.He is also known to use the popular ET Drag tires, part #3183, size 33.5/16.5-16,depending upon the event and the racing conditions.

"Luke is considered to be a Platinum member of Team M/T," said Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "He continues to be one of the most formidable competitors in the sport, and consistently dominates the Super Comp class. We congratulate him on an incredible season and wish him continued success."

Mickey Thompson-sponsored Brian Deegan (Deegan Motorsports) earned a third place finish in the Pro 2 Unlimited class, and a third place finish in the Pro Lite class, both in round eight.

Dave Mason Jr., who competes in the Pro Buggy Unlimited class and has earned a place at the podium at every competition this season, earned a second place finish in both round seven and eight.

Competing in the Pro 4 Unlimited class, Eric Barron earned a third place finish in round seven following by a stunning first place finish in round eight - the first Pro 4 Unlimited class win for a Mickey Thompson competitor, and especially exciting because this is the first year for a Mickey Thompson racer to compete in this class.

"This has been one of the most memorable seasons on record," stated Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson. "Brian, Dave and Eric go into every competition prepared to give it their best, and it certainly shows. We congratulate these great men and wish them continued success."

Stow, OH - The Mickey Thompson sponsored 21st annual Top Truck Challenge (TTC) produced by Four Wheeler magazine celebrated an incredible finish with both first and second place winners on Mickey Thompson tires.

First place winner John Retzloff from Covelo, Calif. entered the TTC competition this year with his super modified 1977 GMC K15 with Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires size 19.5/46-20LT. Matt Huit from Spokane, Wash. took the second place spot in his super modified 1981 Volkswagon Rabbit on Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC tires size 19.5/54-20LT. Both men entered this year's competition with 18 years of off-road driving experience.

"What a great way to celebrate 21 years of the Top Truck Challenge, and 50 years of Mickey Thompson innovation," said Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson. "There is no substitute for the extreme conditions of the Top Truck Challenge and we congratulate both John and Matt on an incredible performance at this event."

Held in Hollister, Calif., the TTC sets the bar for off-road obstacle courses, and every annual event offers something special. TTC competitors participate in the legendary Tow Test, Frame Twister, Mud Pit, Obstacle Course, Hill Climb, and the ultimate challenge, the Tank Trap. Plus, this year the event added a new challenge called the Coal Chute utilizing a freshly renovated section of the Hollister Hills SVRA.

Stow, OH - Rounds five and six of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS)competition at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park was action packed this past weekend with plenty of podium finishes on Mickey Thompson tires. Mickey Thompson-sponsored Deegan Motorsports earned a first place finish in the Pro 2 Unlimited class in round five,and a second place finish in the ProLite class.

Dave Mason Jr., competing in Pro Buggy Unlimited class and earning a place at the podium at every competition this season, earned a second place finish in round five and a third place finish in round six on Mickey Thompson tires.

"Every event in the series this year has been fantastic," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson."Once again, we congratulate Deegan Motorsports and Dave Mason Jr. on a job well done this past weekend, and look forward to more great LOORRS action this season."

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) will support the 2013 Western Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (WMDRA) AMSOILSturgis Nationals scheduled for Aug. 5-7 at Sturgis Dragway as the official tire sponsor. In this important role, Mickey Thompson will award the winners in Top Fuel and Pro Dragster with a Mickey Thompson drive tire. Also, new this year, WMDRA introduces the Mickey Thompson Pro Gas 'Quick Draw Challenge' where the first round competitor with the lowest reaction time wins afree Mickey Thompson drive tire.

"It's great to expand our support of the sport of motorcycle drag racing,"stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "Dragbike competition is some of the most exciting racing around and we're looking forward to another great event this August."

The WMDRA was founded in 2011 to support professional drag racers and promote the sport of all motorcycle drag racing, both American and metric, in the western United States. For more information, visit http://www.westernmotodrags.com/.

Stow, OH - Round three and four of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) competition at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway was action packed this past weekend with plenty of podium finishes on Mickey Thompson tires. Mickey Thompson-sponsored Brian Deegan earned a first place finish in the Pro Lite class in round three along with a second place finish in the Pro 2 Unlimited class. In round four, Deegan earned another first place finish, this time in the Pro 2 Unlimited class.

Dave Masonalso wowed the crowd earning a second place podium finish in both round three and round four in the Pro Buggy Unlimited class on Mickey Thompson tires.

"It's been a great start to the season, and it?s fantastic to see Brian and Dave on the podium," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson."We congratulate these tough competitors on a job well done this past weekend, and look forward to more great LOORRS action in the coming months."

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the Drag Racing Online (DRO) AA/FC Challenge in 2013 as the presenting sponsor. The company will be posting awards for winners and runners-up for all events beginning with the first event April 26-27 at Texas Raceway Park.

"Nostalgic nitro funny car racing is as strong as ever, and we look forward to this series every year," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "It will be great to be on the ground for six action packed events in six different states featuring vehicle model years 1979 and earlier. These racers are in a class by themselves, and we?re proud to be a part of the series again this year."

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns this year as official title sponsor of the MIROCK Superbike Series.

"When it comes to motorcycle drag racing, MIROCK has always been an incredible series featuring competitors from all over the country," said Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "As spring arrives, so does motorcycle drag racing, and we're looking forward to every minute of it."

The MIROCK Superbike Series is the nation's largest all-motorcycle drag racing series. It attracts racers from all over the country with 10 racing classes and between 500 and 600 competitors at each event. The series includes nine scheduled events for the 2013 season and hosts upwards of 7,000 attendees per event. For more information, visit http://www.mirockracing.com.

Stow, OH - The late Mickey Thompson was recently recognized with the prestigious Shav Glick Award. Justice Brothers presented the award on March 24 at Fontana Motor Speedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Auto Club 400. Named for the longtime L.A. Times motorsports Hall of Fame journalist Shav Glick who passed away in 2007, the award recognizes an industry personality who has made valuable or distinguished contributions in the state of California.

The 2013 nominees included George Follower, Tom McEwen, Chris Pook and Mickey Thompson. Ed Justice, Jr., president and CEO of Justice Brothers, made the presentation during prerace ceremonies.

"We are very proud that Mickey Thompson has been selected to receive this very special award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the industry here in the state of California," stated Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "It is especially meaningful to us and to the Thompson family as we celebrate the company's 50th anniversary this year."

The legendary Mickey Thompson was the first to develop the 'sling shot' dragster, built and raced funny cars and expanded to off-road racing in the 1970s. He later founded SCORE International and began building his own versions of off-road sprint cars for his indoor stadium off-road racing series. An innovative racecar driver, designer and promoter, Mickey Thompson held 485 national and international speed and endurance records at the time of his passing. His family and the company he founded remain dedicated to his legacy. http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/pressreleasepage.php?id=262.

"This limited edition Signature Series truck is an awesome tribute to our brand, our 50th anniversary and to our new ATZp3 all-terrain tire that we will be launching this year," stated Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson. "We really enjoyed working with the Rocky Ridge team on this project."

Available by special order through any Chevrolet or GM dealership, the concept was unveiled at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) show in February. Each truck will be fully customized witha variety of products in addition to Mickey Thompson tires and wheels including:

Six-inch ProComp? Suspension Lift Kit

N-FabPre-Runner Bar with Three Off-road Lights

GrillcraftBlack Mesh Grille

Three N-Fab Step Bars

Color-Matched Fender Flares

Tailgate Spare Tire Carrier

Flowmaster? Slanted Black Dual Exhaust

Mickey Thompson Logo Headrest

Four Piece All-Weather Floor Mats

Smoked Aeroskin Hood Protector

Four Piece Slimline Rain Guards

"This truck was conceptualized based upon our love of off-road racing," stated Trent Cawthon, Vice President, Rocky Ridge Vans. "The new Mickey Thompson ATZp3 tires and Sidebiter wheels are perfect for this custom truck, and as a huge supporter of the brand, we had a great time putting this project together."

"Being involved with the oldest and most recognized all-domestic vehicle drag racing series in the country is something we look forward to every year," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "Supporting the Pro and Sportsman racers is something we're proud of, and we're looking forward to a great season."

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the NMRA racing scene as the official 2013 series sponsor including all national NMRA events. Mickey Thompson will also be posting contingency awards in all Pro and Sportsman classes including Pro Outlaw 10.5, Super Street Outlaw, EFI Renegade, Hot Street, Drag Radial, Coyote Stock, Factory Stock, Modular Muscle, Super Stang, Open Comp, and Truck and Lightning as well as special-event classes. "This sponsorship is a great way for us to continue to support the NMRA Pro and Sportsman racers, which is a big part of our company legacy," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "NMRA all-Ford street legal drag racing is always exciting, and we look forward to being part of the action again this year." The next event in the series is the NMRA/NMCA Nationals in Commerce, Ga., April 11-14. For more information about this exciting series, visit http://www.nmcadigital.com. For the series schedule, visithttp://www.nmcadigital.com/2013_event_schedule/.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to NMCA WEST Street Car Series as the 2013 title sponsor of the Xtreme Drag Radial/True Ten 5 class. In addition to the title class sponsorship, Mickey Thompson will act as a contingency sponsor for the series Pro and Sportsman classes including Pro Street, True 10.5, X275 Drag Radial, Outlaw 8.5, Hot Street, Nostalgia Street Car, Open Comp, Mustang Madness, Super Quick and Quick Street classes. "This series delivers some of the most exciting West Coast street car racing around, and we are pleased to play a role in supporting the series and the racers," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "The Xtreme Drag Radial True Ten 5 class is a super fast and extremely competitive environment requiring a DOT approved, 315 drag radial tire or 29.5x10.5 slick, which is the perfect racing environment for our drag tires." For more information about the NMCA WEST Street Car Series beginning April 5-7 in Bakersfield, Calif., visit http://www.nmcadigital.com. For the complete event schedule, visithttp://www.nmcadigital.com/2013_event_schedule/.

Stow, OH - Team M/T member Bill Glidden will showcase an all-new Mickey Thompson vehicle wrap on his championship Mustang as he competes in the six event NMCA series.

Competing in Pro Street class, the longtime tire development competitor for Mickey Thompson will take on the turbocharged, supercharged and nitrous powered competitors in Pro Street proudly sporting the 50th anniversary wrap by GregZ Designs.

"Billy is a fierce Team M/T racer who always gives it his best out there," said Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "We're proud to have him feature this stunning vehicle wrap in celebration of 50 great years, and the significant contribution he has made to our Big Tire Development Program over the years."

Stow, OH - The first LOORRS competition took place this past weekend, March 16-17 at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Round one ended with three Mickey Thompson competitors earning podium spots including Eric Barron who earned a third place finish in Pro 4 Unlimited, and Brian Deegan taking a first place finish in Pro Lite Unlimited, along with Dave Mason Jr. who earned a third place finish in Pro Buggy Unlimited.

Round two was equally exciting with third place finishes earned by Jeff Geiser in Pro 2 Unlimited, Brian Deegan in Pro Lite Unlimited, and Dave Mason Jr. in Pro Buggy Unlimited.

"What an incredible start to the 2013 season," stated Ken Warner, VP of Sales and Marketing for Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "To see these competitors make it to the podium in both rounds of competition this weekend was impressive. We're looking forward to the next event in Las Vegas in April."

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels is a 2013 LOORRS sponsor. Through this program, Mickey Thompson provides the legendary Baja Pro tires and trackside support to racers, and continues to work collaboratively with teams in the Pro 2 Unlimited, Pro 4 Unlimited, SuperLite, Pro Lite Unlimited and Pro Buggy Unlimited classes to test and prove off-road tire products. For more information about this exciting off-road racing series, please visit http://www.lucasoiloffroad.com/.

"What an incredible event," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "It was amazing to see so many Team M/T winners at this event, and we congratulate them all."

Mickey Thompson is an NHRA national event sponsor, a contingency sponsor for all Sportsman racing classes including Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and will be on site at all national events with the fully equipped Mickey Thompson trailer to provide trackside support to racers throughout the season. The company also serves as a divisional level associate contingency sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in all Sportsman classes including Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.

Stow, OH - Beginning with the inaugural season of the X-DRL, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) will act as the official Top Sportsman class sponsor. Based in Kerrville, Texas, the X-DRL is a premier sanctioning body for eighth-mile drag racing. Professional racing classes include Pro Junior Dragster, SuperCar Showdown, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, X-treme Pro Mod, Pro Turbo, X-treme Pro Stock, Pro Nitrous and Pro X-treme.

"As we celebrate 50 years, we want to remain true to the legacy of our company, and supporting the Top Sportsman competitors is part of that," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson. "We're looking forward to a great season. There are going to be a lot of talented drivers participating this year for a chance to win the X-DRL Championship crown."

The inaugural season of the X-DRL will include competition drag racing at nine of the nations most prestigious tracks in Okla., Tenn., La., Mo., Md., Texas, Ind., Ala., and N.C. beginning with the X-DRL Spring Nationals at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, in Tulsa, Okla. For more information and a complete schedule, visit http://x-drl.com/schedules/.

Stow, OH - In addition to its sponsorship of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS), Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) has expanded its relationship to include the regional grass roots short course racing series, the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series. Through this relationship, Mickey Thompson will support racers as a MiniStock Class sponsor.

According to Lucas Oil, this sponsorship translates to real world support of racers who build and compete in small, production-based trucks. MiniStock Class racers rely primarily on stock components and with minor modifications, these production trucks are converted into competition vehicles. Mickey Thompson's support means support to racers who are passionate about the sport, but don't have a huge budget.
"As we celebrate 50 years, we want to remain true to the legacy of our company, and it's important for us to have an active and meaningful role in supporting racers on the ground," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson."This role offers us the perfect opportunity to support racers, and our off-road tires, like the Baja MTZ and Baja ATZ, are perfect for these high performance off-road applications."

The MiniStock class is one of the fastest growing racing classes in the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road series both here in southern California as well as in Arizona, stated Lee Perfect, LOORRS Director. Because of the limited modifications and smaller budgets, the MiniStock teams are always looking for every advantage, and Mickey Thompson's involvement is really going to make a big difference.

The Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series includes six events beginning Feb. 23 at Glen Helen Raceway. For more information, visit www.LucasOilRegional.com.

Stow, OH - Beginning with this year's race season, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) will enter into a long-term sponsorship agreement with four-time Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) Short Course champion and 15-time X Games medalist Brian Deegan. Through this unique relationship, Mickey Thompson will act as the official car and off-road tire sponsor for Deegan, and will provide support in a variety of ways including sponsorship of his LOORRS and Global RallyCross Championship (GRC) presence.

Deegan,a two time Pro 2 Unlimited Class Champion and two time Pro Lite Unlimited Class Champion, received the Pro 2 Unlimited Rookie of the Year and LOORRS Driver of the Year awards in 2011. Beginning this season, Deegan will compete in Pro 2 Unlimited Class using Mickey Thompson Baja Pro Radial tires, and in the Pro Lite Unlimited Class using both the Mickey Thompson MTZ Radial and ATZ Radial tires. Deegan will also serve as a technical consultant in the real world testing, evaluation and development of the Mickey Thompson tire products to assist in continued research and development of the company's high performance, off-road and ultra-high performance products. He will also serve as an official spokesperson for the Mickey Thompson brand.

"Today's short-course, off-road vehicles are custom built for unique track conditions and course demands," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson."As we celebrate 50 years of product innovation, we're looking forward to partnering with Brian, a champion competitor and racing expert, to help us further refine our products. Together with Brian and our engineering, research and development teams, we can accomplish great things including new product innovation."

"Working with an iconic brand like Mickey Thompson is incredible," stated Deegan. "This company has dedicated 50 years to being the best in high performance and racing products. I always strive to be the best, and using the best products is a huge part of that. Having Mickey Thompson's support, as well as the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to future product development, is going to be great."

In addition to his LOORRS success, Deegan is an international competitor and the most decorated Freestyle Motocross rider in the competition's history having earned 15 X Games medals, including a gold medal in X Games 17 in RallyCross. Through a variety of venues, Deegan will represent the Mickey Thompson brand and its tire products, including promotion of the new ultra-high performance Street Comp tire through the Global RallyCross Championship, a competition that combines the best aspects of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition. The sponsorship will also include a variety of mutually supportive website, marketing, advertising and social media audience engagement programs.

"Brian has been a world class competitor since he started racing," stated Warner. "From Short Course, to Motocross, Freestyle Motocross, and Rally Car racing including the X Games, Brian is a champion. Supporting racers and champions is the heart of our company, which makes this relationship with Brian that much more exciting."

About Brian "The General" Deegan
A professional racer since age 17, Brian Deegan is now one of today?s most decorated action sports athletes, and co-founder of Metal Mulisha. He is an international competitor and the most decorated Freestyle Motocross rider in the competition's history having earned 15 X Games medals including a gold medal in X Games 17, and a bronze medal in X Games 18, both in RallyCross. He continues to test the limits in Freestyle Motocross, Pro 2 and Pro Lite Short Course racing, RallyCross, and Stock Car racing. In 2012, he earned the LOORRS Pro 2 Class Championship, and placed second in the 2012 inaugural season of the Global RallyCross series. In 2011, he earned the LOORRS Pro 2 and Pro Lite Class Championships and was honored as Pro 2 Rookie of the Year. That same year, he was one of only two drivers to represent the USA at the Race of Champions in Germany. Major sponsors include Rockstar Energy Drink, Ford Motor Company, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Metal Mulisha, FRAM Filtration, DVS Shoe Co., Lucas Oil, Makita Industrial Power Tools, MSR, Gibson Exhaust Systems, 4-Wheel Parts, Motegi Wheels, Ronin-Syndicate, Atomik R/C, Pro Taper, MYPLASH Prepaid MasterCard, Fathead, Brembo, Fortin, PPG, VP Racing Fuels, Fox Shocks, Impact by Mastercraft Safety, MSD Ignitions, FK Rod Ends, California Torque Products, Eibach Springs, McKenzies, Fiberwerx, JE Pistons, QTM, Roush Yates Engines, G2, Dailey Engineering, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ARP and AZ Driveshafts. For more information, visit http://www.briandeegan.com/.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson returns to Pacific Street Car Association (PSCA) in 2013 as the official tire sponsor for all eight drag racing events. In addition, the company is also the Title Sponsor of the Wild Street Class for the season, and the Title Event Sponsor for the annual Mickey Thompson West Coast Shootout.

Through this relationship, Mickey Thompson Motorsports will be on site at numerous events with the fully-equipped Mickey Thompson trailer to provide trackside service to racers throughout the season, and will also post contingency awards for winners and runners-up using four Mickey Thompson tires at all PSCA events of the season including the Street Car Supernationals VIII.

"We're looking forward to supporting PSCA racers again this year," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "PSCA offers a great event lineup with events scheduled from California to Nevada, and it's going to be some great racing action."

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing as a major national event sponsor of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in 2013. Mickey Thompson Motorsports will support Sportsman racers as a contingency sponsor for all Sportsman racing classes including Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and will be on site at all 24 national events with the fully equipped Mickey Thompson trailer to provide trackside support to racers throughout the season.

"Sportsman class racing is one of the cornerstones of the Mickey Thompson legacy," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "Mickey Thompson has supported NHRA racers for nearly 30 years, and as our company celebrates 50 years, we want to continue to provide outstanding support to Sportsman racers in a variety of ways."

The 24-event Mello Yello Drag Racing Series kicks off with the Winternationals February 14-17 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., followed by the Arizona Nationals February 22-24 at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz. For a complete event schedule, visithttp://www.nhra.com/schedules/2013fts.aspx.

In addition to its return to national event sponsorship, Mickey Thompson will continue to serve as a divisional level associate contingency sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in all Sportsman classes including Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Mickey Thompson Motorsports will continue to support the NHRA racers through its Team M/T program, and racers interested in joining Team M/T may contact Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, at 800-222-9092 X3114 for more information.

Stow, OH - Founded by the legendary Mickey Thompson and friend Gene McMannis in 1963, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson)today announced it is celebrating 50 years of innovation and product excellence in 2013. Thompson and McMannis started with a visionary way to design, manufacture and test high performance tires - a legacy that remains the backbone of the company today.

"This is an incredible milestone for our company," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson. "We want to celebrate this achievement and commemorate this anniversary by honoring both our history and the future of our company."

A Brief History of Innovation

In 1963, the company began with the development of a new open-wheel racing tire that had a softer compound and a lower profilegiving racers a lower center of gravity and greater stability, and then offered a 12-inch wheel to complement the tire. The following year, a 15-inch tire and wheel combination was added and Mickey Thompson became the first tire company to offer 50-, 60- and 70-series "Indy Profile" tires.

In the '70s, the legendary ET Drag tires for the strip were introduced and the company expanded research and development efforts to include tires for the Thompson-founded SCORE off-roadand Mickey Thompson stadium short-course racing series. Thompson used the specially designed truck tires in 1982 to win the Baja 1000 and set a new record time for the event.

The company introduced the Sportsman tire in 1982, the widest high-performance street legal tire ever made, and in 1991, the Sportsman Pro tire was launched. With its specially designed tread, unique "hot and sticky" drag tire compound and flexible wrinkle wall construction, the Sportsman Pro provided Pro Street racerswith a street legal tire that could be used for drag racing. The tire was inducted into theHot Rod Magazine Speed Parts Hall of Fame in 2011.

In the early 2000s, product development continued with the introduction of a diverse group of truck and off-road radial tires, as well as a full range of wheels.In 2008, the company introduced the Pro-5 Drag wheel offering the lightest practical weight and the greatest strength available from any aluminum wheel today. In the past several years alone, Mickey Thompson has introduced numerous new tires and wheels for street, strip, truck, off-road and motorcycle including several award winners. (Seehttp://www.mickeythompsontires.com/about.php)

Mickey Thompson Today and in The Future

A recognized leader in high performance tires and wheels, Mickey Thompson has product distributors in more than 60 countries and thousands of dealer locations worldwide. The company also supports dozens of racing sanctioning bodies representing drag racing, short-course off-road racing, vintage funny car and motorcycle drag racing categories. The Mickey Thompson brand is known in every sportsman drag racing class for helping racers earn countless records and world championships. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company's purchase of the company in 2003 has enhanced product innovation and growth opportunities.

Today, Mickey Thompson innovation is reflected in products like the new Baja Pro short-course racing tire, as well as award-winning products like the new Street Comp ultra-high performance street tire and the all-terrain and off-road Baja ATZP3 Radial. The company's vision for the future extends to the development of complete solutions like the new Enhanced Stance System (ESS), combining tires and wheels for specific applications.

"Our company continues to focus on product development to meet the changing needs of the vehicle and racing landscape," stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson. "Today's drag racing vehicles are faster, higher horsepower and lighter weight than ever before, and short-course, off-road vehicles are custom built for unique track conditions and course demands. Every vehicle and racing application requires specialized tire and wheel designs, and we remain dedicated to providing excellent products to meet those needs."

About Mickey Thompson the Man

Mickey Thompson was born Dec. 7, 1928. He bought his first car at age 14, and rebuilt several cars before he was old enough to drive. Thompson's racing experience began on the streets, but he quickly took his love of racing to the dry lakebeds nearby, and later to the Bonneville Salt Flats. In 1954, Thompson was the first to develop what is now known as a "sling-shot" dragster - a racing chassis that placed the driver behind the rear axle and coupled the engine and transmission directly to the differential of the vehicle.

In the 1960s, Thompson focused his racing and vehicle design on open-wheel racing. He also built the Challenger I Streamliner and was the first American to go over 400 miles per hourearning him a new nickname - The Speed King. In 1968, Thompson and a team of fabricators built the Challenger II with the goal of exceeding the existing land speed record.

Thompson devoted himself to building and racing funny cars and expanded to off-road racing in the 1970s.He later founded SCORE International and began building his own versions of off-road sprint cars for his indoor stadium off-road racing series.

Tragically, in 1988, Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy were killed. An innovative racecar driver, designer and promoter, Mickey Thompson held 485 national and international speed and endurance records at the time of his passing. Today, his son Danny Thompson is rebuilding the Challenger 2 to create the Challenger 2.5 in hopes of exceeding his father's existing land speed record. His family and the company he founded remain dedicated to his legacy.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the Top Truck Challenge (TTC) again this year as an official sponsor. This year marks the 21st year for this annual event produced by Four Wheeler magazine held in June in Hollister, Calif.

The TTC sets the bar for off-road obstacle courses, and every annual event offers something special. TTC competitors participate in the legendary Tow Test, Frame Twister, Mud Pit, Obstacle Course, Hill Climb, and the ultimate challenge, the Tank Trap. Plus, this year the competitors will have a new challenge called the Coal Chute, an event that utilizes a freshly renovated section of the Hollister Hills SVRA.

"We are looking forward to another great year as we celebrate 21 years of the Top Truck Challenge, and 50 years of Mickey Thompson," said Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "There is no substitute for the extreme conditions of the Top Truck Challenge when developing and testing products for this type of application, and we've certainly seen that with our Baja Claw TTC and we're looking forward to seeing it perform in the event it was created for."

Available now from RC4WD, the iPhone case product number is Z-S0726 and retails for about $19.99. Mickey Thompson, Baja Claw TTC and the Mickey Thompson logo are property of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. For more information or to order, visit http://store.rc4wd.com/-Mickey-Thompson-iPhone-5-Case_p_2736.html.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels is proud to introduce the new Mickey Thompson M/T® Metal Series (Mickey Metal Series) wheels. These affordable, heavy duty steel wheels feature a tough black powder coat, embossed center cap, and the Mickey Thompson name stamped directly into the wheel face. Available in popular 15-, 16- and 17-inch sizes, the Mickey Metal Series wheels are offered in several options including the MT-28 (original eight-hole wheel) and the MT-88 (the 10-hole "D-window" wheel).

"Mickey Metal Series wheels were specially designed for today's tough off-roaders and toy haulers," said Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson. "These stylish black wheels are available in the most popular sizes, plus a special application for trailers and toy haulers and an exclusive 17x9 size for late model trucks with larger brakes. They?re tough, functional and affordable with the ultimate style you'd expect from Mickey Thompson."

Mickey Metal Series wheels, scheduled for availability in September 2012, offer heavy-duty steel construction and a lifetime limited warranty against structural defects. For more information, visithttp://www.mickeythompsontires.com/metal/

Stow, OH - Danny Thompson now offers commemorative T-shirts with proceeds benefiting the historic Challenger 2.5 land speed record project. Within the next year, Thompson will attempt to exceed the existing internal combustion wheel-driven land speed record of 417.020 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Now, individuals and organizations have the opportunity to make a measurable contribution to the project by purchasing attractive commemorative T-shirts for just $19.99 each by visitinghttp://thompsonlsr.com/store/.

"A lot of people have approached us about options to make a contribution to the project, and many others have requested commemorative apparel," stated Danny Thompson of Thompson LSR. "With that input, we moved forward with plans to offer a variety of T-shirt designs as well as commemorative Challenger 2.5 stickers. All net proceeds will be donated to the land speed record project."

Progress on the Challenger 2.5 streamliner has been extensive. Thompson is working collaboratively with renowned fabricator Steve Davis to complete the project. A steering system for the all-wheel drive twin-engine streamliner and final machining and assembly is in progress. Thompson is producing hand-cut engine plates and upgraded the cockpit with a Racepak setup. Air tanks, steering wheel mounted air shifters, and a fire extinguisher system have been added. Two 500 cubic-inch Brad Anderson Engineering (BAE) aluminum engines will be added soon along with four sets of billet aluminum BAE racing heads and Mickey Thompson Bonneville LSR tires. The old paint has been stripped to bare metal and the tail section and parachutes have been re-designed to be compliant with sanctioning rules. Thompson is working with designer Chip Foose to complete the exterior including custom paint by Foose. For more information, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CVkGZkYkJ8

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson continues to expand support for Pacific Street Car Association (PSCA) competitors by awarding a new set of drive tires to all pole-position racers in the upcoming Super Chevy Show at Bandimere Speedway, Aug. 17-18.

"I have a feeling that qualifying rounds are going to be pretty interesting," stated Mel Roth, PSCA President. "Every drag racer out there knows the value of free equipment, especially when it comes to the quality product Mickey Thompson brings to the track."

Mickey Thompson is the official PSCA tire sponsor for all eight drag racing events as well as the Title Sponsor of the Wild Street Class for the season, and the Title Event Sponsor for the annual Mickey Thompson West Coast Shootout. Mickey Thompson Motorsports will be on site at numerous events with the fully-equipped Mickey Thompson trailer to provide trackside service to racers throughout the season, and will also post contingency awards for winners and runners-up using four Mickey Thompson tires at all PSCA events of the season including the Street Car Supernationals VIII.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels congratulates John Hale for a stunning performance against Jason Rupert in the Drag Racing Online (DRO) AA/FC Challenge action at the Rockabilly Rod Reunion at the Strip in Las Vegas. Defending 2011 DRO AA/FC Challenge Champion John Hale was pitted against the DRO AA/FC Challenge 2011 Heritage Series Champion Jason Rupert in the finals. Hale achieved a scorching 5.737/251.81 mph victory over Rupert's 5.848/252.19 mph finish and set a new elapsed time record for the series.

"Nostalgic nitro funny car racing is always exciting, and we congratulate John for a great performance," stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. "We know this was a really tough competition between a couple of fierce competitors, and seeing John earn the win on our tires was fantastic."

DRO AA/FC Series competition culminates in the October NMRA/NMCA World Street Finals and LSX Shootout in Indianapolis. Winning AA/FC racers using Mickey Thompson tires and displaying the Mickey Thompson logo decal earn $300, with $100 awarded to runners up. For more information on this exciting series, visit http://www.dragracingonline.com/challenge/index.html.

Stow, OH - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) is offering a prepaid MasterCard of up to $50 for a limited time to consumers who purchase the popular ET Drag, ET Front, ET Street, ET Street Radial, and ET Street Radial II tires from June 15 through July 31.

The program is simple. Consumers purchase a set of two or more qualifying drag tires within the program dates and submit the invoice and claim form to Mickey Thompson by mail. A Mickey Thompson prepaid MasterCard in the amount of $50 will be provided to those who purchase two or more ET Drag, ET Street, ET Street Radial (excluding ET Street Radial Pro), or ET Street Radial II tires. A prepaid MasterCard in the amount of $25 will be provided to those who purchase two or more ET Front tires. The MasterCards may be used virtually anywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted. A maximum of $75 per consumer applies.

Requests must be postmarked no later than August 31 to be eligible. This offer is valid only in the United States and certain terms and conditions apply. For details, visithttp://www.mickeythompsontires.com/rebate.